The Watergate Affair Bason's convenor Monty Hike (centrej and other occupying workers From BOB CLEAVER and PAUL YOUNG Workers occupying the heavily barricaded factory of Bason's in Stockport are currently awaiting the arrivul of bailiffs empowered to repossess the factory by the High Court. The occupation started on 13 April after attempta to break the workers" 100% AUEW union organisation. This first took the form of dirmise? notices to six workers, including two shop stewards. After a bostile reac tion there was a change in tactics, with redundancy notices being served on 11 men, including the original six and another steward, Suggestions were then made by some of the workers about work-sharing schemes or voluntary redundancies, but the employen made it clear that they were out to attack the union by insisting that the 11 men must go. man then voted indefinite strike and occupation Bason's was occupied for no less than 18 weeks during last year's engineering sit-ins in the Manchester ares, emerging with a settlement well above the average. As a long-standing union stronghold in an area where re lations between the union and the Engineering Employers Federation have been very tense since last year's strike, what is actually involved this struggle is a confrontation between the might of the BEF and the REQUIRED URGENTLY: Fast, accurate Typist AUEW as a whole. A victory for the Bason's workers would greatly in crease the strength and confidence of all engineering workers in taking on the employers again in another hard fight over this year's claim. MORALE HIGH So far motale is high, with worken from other engincering plants includ ing Gardiner's, as well as-Stretfor refuse workers (both also in dispute) reinforcing the occupation. No hail. iffs will evict the men if such rein forcements continue and a round the-clock mass picket is mounted on the gates.
But two incidents already show hov the state is looking to take advan tage of their potential isolation. judge hearing application repossession granted the order mediately once he had been that only 40 men were And Social Security, who year made a whole number of pay ments under pressure from thourand of strikers, have so far refused th time to make single payment In any long-drawn out dispute threat of isolation will become great er and greater. But action now b other workers, particularly other engineering plants in the aren can ensure a quick and overwboln ing victory which will strengthen th hand of all workers in the comin disputes.